Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The work done by the LGAS is very important. Accountability in local authorities is very important. Depending on the local authority, it could be dealing with hundreds of millions of euro.

I have a few questions arising from the report. One relates to a purchase of city trees by Cork City Council at a cost of €404,000 to improve the air quality in the city centre. No advice was sought from the council's own procurement officer and no documentary evidence was provided as to the value for money assessment for the purchase of these city trees. I was looking at them when I was in Cork city centre yesterday and thought I should raise a question about them. An awful lot of money was spent on them. It would be one thing if a value for money assessment was carried out that states they will improve the air quality and thereby justify the expense, but is it justified?